Portable foot warmer



Nov. 22, 1960 A. w. CLARK PORTABLE FOOT WARMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1958 INVENTOR.

A. w. CLARK ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1960 Filed Nov. 28, 1958 A. W. CLARK PORTABLE FOOT WARMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

A. W. CLARK A TTORNE Y ited States atent O PGRTABLE F061 WARMER Auvy W. Clark, 121 N. 8th St, Waco, Tex.

Ffied Nov. 28, 1953, Ser. No. 776,875

2 Claims. (Ql. 126-298) The present invent on relates to a portable foot warmer. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a'lightweight readily portable foot warmer for use in warming the feet of patrons of various outdoor activities, such as football games, and the like, the device being highly useful to hunters, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts, and adapted to warm the feet under 'a w'de variety of circumstances where this may be desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foot warmer which is rockable during use and thereby adjustable to the desired position found to be most comfortable to the user.

A further object is to provide a foot warmer which is highly compact n construction, durable, and having a unitary readily removable burner unit whichalso'constitutes the rocker element of the foot warmer.

A further object'is to provide a foot warmer of the above mentioned character which is entirely safe to use, easy to assemble and disassemble, and highly effective for circulating 'the heat around the feet of the user.

Still another object is to prov'de a foot warmer of the above-mentioned character, including a novel carrying case whichserves the additional purpose of entrapping the heat produced by the foot warmer and confining the heat near the feet while the foot warmer is being used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be.'

come apparent during the course of the following detailed 'descrption.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis application; and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is aperspective view of the foot warmer and its carrying case in use, parts broken away for the pur-' pose of illustratf on.

Figure-Zis an end elevation of'the foot warmer without the carrying case.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the foot warmer on a somewhat reduced scale.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line- P4 of Figure 5, with parts in elevation.

Figure 5 isa long'tuddinal vertical section taken on line 5'-5 of Figure 4, partly in elevation.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the foot warmer showing the burner assembly separated from the foot warmer box or'housing.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration' is shown a preferredembodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 desgnates generally a shallow generally rectangular body portion or housing, formed of sheet metal, such as aluminum or the like. The housing iiicomprises an upper pan-like section 11, having a fiat imperforate top wall 12, which may be corrugated to prevent slippage of the feet during use, as shown. The housing section-l1 further comprises depending side and end marginal Walls Band 14, integral withthe topwall 12,.and the end walls 14 are each provided with a plurality of. spaced. heat circulating openings formed therethrough, as shown.

The housing 10 further comprises a lower section 16, having a generally fiat bottom wall 17, and a continuous upturned marginal flange 18, which extends about the four sides of the rectangular housing, and engages inwardly of the lower portions of the side and end walls 13) and 14- of upper housing sect'on 11 in assembly.

At a plurality of points around the margin of the housing 10, the side and end walls 13 and 14 of the upper housing section are inwardly struck, as at 19, to

form thereon inwardly projecting stop lugs 20, Figures 4 and 5, which stop lugs engage and position the up turned marginal fl nge 18 of the lower housing section 16 in assembly. Themarginal flange 18 has a snugtfit w'thin the upper housing section 11, and the portions of the'side and end walls 13 and 14 which overlap the marginal flange 18 may be rolled inwardly at the lower edge of the housing to form a permanent and secure connection between the upper and lower housing sections lland 1-5; If preferred, the marginal flange 18 may be spot welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the depending side and end walls 13 and 14 of the upper housing section.

The bottom wall 17 of the lower housing section 16 in cludes a somewhat u wardly recessed or offset generally rectangular portion 21, "ntegral therewith, which wall portion contains a relatively large elongated rectangularonening 22 formed therethrough, to receive elements of the burner assembly to be described. As best shown in Figure 4. the recess d wall portion 21 and its elongated opening 22 extend longitudinally of the housing 10 and are offset somewhat from the transverse center of the housing. Adjacent the opposite longitudinal margins of the recessed wall port'on 21, the bottom wall 17 is provided with a plurality of groups of heat circulating openings 23, preferably arranged as shown in Figure 6, and the openings 23 are somewhat smaller than the openings 15 previously described.

The foot warmer further comprises a unitary readily detachible burner assembly, shown generally at 24, and com rising an elongated substantially semi-cylindrical casing section or wall 25, formed'of sheet'rnetal, and having smoothly rounded ends 26, as'shown in the drawings. The burner assembly 24 further comprises a generally flat top plate 27, permanently rigidly secured about its entire marginal edge within an upper marginal head 28, formed upon the semi-cylindrical cas'ng section 25. The bead28 extends'co-ntinuously around the sides and ends of the burner assembly 24, and the head is pressed or crimped for permanently securing the top plate 27 within it. The topof the head 28 above the top plate 27 is that, and when the burner assembly 24 is attached tothe housing 10, the bead 28 and top plate 27 are received within the shallow recess afforded by the upward ly recessed wall portion 21 previously described. It may now be seen that the'cas'ng section 25 and top plate 27 form a generally. closed casing or tank in the burner assembly 24;

The top; plate 27 of the burner assembly is provided at three longitudinally equidistantly spaced points and at the transverse centers thereof with short upwardly extendingoblong necks 29, which are tubular and which define openings leading to the interior of the casing affordedrby the elements 25 and 27. The necks 29' of the top plate 27 are integral with the top wall 27 and elongated len thwise of the same. A corresponding number of burner units 3% have their lower ends detachably telescoped'over the upstanding necks 29 as shown clearly in the drawings, and the burner units 3% include sheet metal shells 3-1 having their lower ends open to receive the upstanding necks therein in snug fitting relation. The individual burnerunits 39 are substantially identical in constructionand operation with the burner units disclosed in United States Patent 2,670,728 to J. W. Smith,

Patented Nov. 22, race.

and in view of this, a further detailed description of the burner units is believed to be unnecessary herein. It should be suflicient to state that in the present device, each of the necks 29 corresponds to the neck 17 of the mentioned Smith patent, and the burner shell 31 corresponds to the shell or housing 29 disclosed in the Smith patent. As fully disclosed in the Smith patent, the burner units 30 are of a chemical type, including a combustion promoting member containing a catalytic agent and enveloped by a pervious tubular fibrous combustion member having interstices therein. In these burner units, slow combustion of the fumes of liquid fuel takes place without a flame and without intense heat, whereby the burner units are ideally suited from the standpoint of safety and comfort to a foot warmer or the like.

The burner units 30 are readily separable from the burner assembly 24, by merely lifting the shells 31 off of thenecks 29. The interior of the casing afforded by the top plate 27 and semi-cylindrical wall 25 is filled with cotton or the like, as shown at 32, which cotton is soaked with a suitable liquid fuel of the type suggested by'the mentioned Smith patent, 2,670,728, when the foot Warmer is to be used. Wicks 33' are provided adjacent to each burner unit 30, and these wicks extend through small openings in the top plate 27, whereby the wicks project into the interior of the burner assembly casing as best shown in Figure 4.

The bottom wall 17 of lower housing section 16 is provided near opposite ends of the recessed wall portion 21 and at one side thereof with a pair of downwardly struck detent lugs 33, integral therewith. Upon the opposite side of the wall portion 21 and at its longitudinal center, the bottom wall 17 is further provided with a pair of integral downwardly struck knuckles or straps 34, containing the ends of a resilient spring catch 35. This spring catch has a forward extension 36 slidable within one of the knuckles 34 and adapted to overlie the marginal head 28 when the latter is seated upon the upwardly recessed wall portion 21. The portion of the bead 28 opposite to the spring catch 35 engages beneath the detent lugs 33, as shown clearly in Figures 3 and 4. By means of this arrangement, the lugs 33 and spring catch 35 cooperate to releasably secure the entire burner assembly 24 to the upwardly recessed wall portion 21 of the housing.

When the parts are thus assembled, the several burner units of the burner assembly project through the elongated opening 22 of the housing 10, and the burner units are situated inside of the housing in the manner shown clearly in Figures 4 and 5. The burner units 30 are arranged close to the top wall 12 of the housing, upon which the feet are placed during the use of the device. The groups of air circulating openings 23 in the bottom wall 17 are arranged on opposite sides of the burner assembly 24, as shown in Figure 4, and the openings 15 in the end walls of the housing are arranged near the elevation of the several burner units when the foot warmer is assembled.

In conjunction with the foot warmer, now completely described, there is provided a combined carrying case and heat confiner, as shown at 37 in Figure 1. The case 37 is in the nature of a relatively large flexible bag having handle straps 38, for convenience of carrying, and being open at its side provided with the handle straps. The case 37 may be formed entirely of fabric such as flannel, but if preferred, only the top wall 39 of the case may be formed of flannel, and the bottom wall 40 may be formed of flexible plastics material or the like, so as to be more resistant to wear. The case 37 is sufliciently large to accommodate the entire foot warmer, as well as the feet of the user, as shown in Figure 1. The case 37 serves to confine or trap the heat produced by the foot Warmer and circulating through the opening 15 and 23, so that the heat will not be lost and the feet are efli cient- 1y heated. The use of the case 37 as illustrated inFigure 1' also prevents the wind from extinguishing the chemical burners. The case 37 also serves as a convenient carrying case for the foot warmer when the same is not being used.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the foot warmer is in use, the burner assembly 24 is arranged lowermost and the housing It} uppermost. The feet of the user are placed directly upon the top wall 12 of the housing, and the feet are warmed by direct radiation from the foot warmer and by the circulating heated air which is retained by the flexible case 37. The entire semi-cylindrical casing section 25 of the burner assembly projects below the bottom wall of the housing 10, Figure 2, and constitutes a convenient rocker on the bottom of the foot warmer, so that the feet of the user may adjust or rock the device to the desired positions for obtaining the greatest comfort. Since the burner assembly 24 is offset slightly from the transverse center line of the housing 10, the foot warmer will naturally gravitate to the inclined position shown in Figure 2 when left idle upon a flat surface. The device thus positions itself automatically to receive the feet in a natural slightly inclined position, which is comfortable when the user is in a sitting position.

The burner assembly 24- may be quickly separated from the housing 10 and reassembled thereto, by manipulation of the spring catch 35 with the thumb.

Briefly, to use the device, the burner assembly 24 is removed from the housing 10 by releasing the catch 35. The burner units 30 are lifted off. The tank containing the cotton wadding 32 is filled with the proper liquid fuel until the cotton becomes saturated with the fuel. The fuel is introduced through the tubular necks 29. Any excess fuel may then be emptied from the tank by inverting the same. The burners 30 are thenreplaced upon the necks 29, and the burner units are ignited by lighting the wicks 33' with a match or cigarette lighter. The wicks are allowed to burn for a short time and are then blown out. This will accomplish the ignition of the several burners, although when ignited no flame is visible. The burner assembly 24 is now secured to the housing 10 through the medium of the catch 35, and the foot warmer should be left standing for a few minutes without handling to allow the burner units to completely ignite. ,The foot warmer is then placed within the carrying case 37, as shown in Figure 1, and it is ready for use. One filling of the burner assembly tank with fuel sufficient to saturate the cotton 32 is sufiicient to operate the foot warmer for several hours.

In view of the teachings of the mentioned Smith patent, no further description of the operation of the burner units 30 is believed to be necessary in connection with the description of the operation of the device.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A foot warmer comprising a substantially rectangular shallow housing including generally flat parallel top and bottom Walls and a relatively narrow marginal wall having openings formed therethrough at opposite sides of the housing, the bottom wall of the housing having an upwardly recessed transversely elongated wall portion provided with a central transversely elongated opening, said recessed wall portion and opening disposed at least in part forwardly of the longitudinal center of the housing, a substantially semicyclindrical elongated fuel casing having a substantially flat top wall and formed separately from the housing, said top wall of the fuel casing substantially coextensive in area with said recessed wall portion and engaging the lower face of the latter and being substantially flush with the bottom wall of the housing, lug means on the bottom wall of the housing engaging said top wall of the fuel casing at one side thereof, releasable catch means carried by the bottom wall of the housing and engaging the top wall of the fuel casing at the other side thereof, and upstanding burner units mounted upon the top wall of the fuel casing and projecting through said elongated opening of said recessed Wall portion and disposed bodily within said housing, said substantially cylindrical fuel casing depending bodily from the bottom wall of said housing and forming a transversely extending rocker for said housing having a rocking axis spaced forwardly of the longitudinal center of the housing.

2. A foot warmer comprising a substantially rectangular shallow housing including generally flat top and bottom walls and a relatively narrow marginal wall, said housing being somewhat elongated transversely and having openings in said marginal wall at the opposite sides thereof, the bottom wall of said housing having an upwardly recessed generally rectangular wall portion extending for substantially the entire width of said housing and being relatively narrow longitudinally of the housing and disposed at least in part forwardly of the longitudinal center of the housing, said recessed wall portion having a relatively narrow opening formed therethrough and elongated transversely of the housing and extending for the major portion of the length of said recessed wall portion transversely of the housing and formed centrally Within the recessed Wall portion, an elongated relatively narrow substantially semi-cylindrical fuel casing formed separately from the housing and extending transversely thereof for a major portion of the width of the housing and having a substantially flat top wall providing a marginal flange extending around the fuel casing and somewhat outwardly thereof, said flat top wall and flange of the fuel casing substantially coextensive in area with the upwardly recessed wall portion of the housing and engageable thereon with said flange substantially flush with the bottom face of the bottom wall of said housing, said semicylindrical fuel casing depending from said housing and constituting a transversely extending rocker for the housing and having a rocking axis spaced forwardly of the longitudinal center of the housing, burner units mounted upon the top wall of the fuel casing and projecting above the fuel casing and upwardly through said narrow opening of said recessed wall portion and disposed bodily within the housing, lugs carried by the bottom wall of the housing adjacent the forward side of the recessed wall portion and underlying said marginal flange of the fuel casing at the forward side of the latter and near the ends thereof, a spring catch carried by the bottom wall of the housing near the rear side of said recessed wall portion and releasably engageable with said marginal flange of the fuel casing at the rear side of the casing and near the transverse center of the housing, said bottom wall of the housing having openings formed therethrough near the forward and rear sides of said recessed wall portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,582 Bush Mar. 11, 1873 672,876 Campbell Apr. 23, 1901 803,545 Boeck Nov. 7, 1905 898,613 Varnum Sept. 15, 1908 2,346,998 Reveno Apr. 18, 1944 2,670,728 Smith Mar. 2, 1954 2,085,164 Mead June 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,852 Austria Aug. 10, 1900 

